December Guide
It's A Wonderful Life (1946)
Book your tickets Online at filmhouse.org.uk Call 0131 380 5280 In person at our box office at 88 Lothian Road, Edinburgh, EH3 9BZ Email info@filmhouse.org.uk
New Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery 12A SCREENING FROM FRI 5 DEC / Rian Johnson USA / 2025 / 2hr 20min / English
Rian Johnson’s detective mastermind Benoit Blanc, gamely portrayed by Daniel Craig, returns for a devilishly fun reinvention of the classic whodunit, featuring an all-star cast. Contains moderate injury detail, violence, sex references, threat, strong language, suicide with limited detail
PERFECT PAIRS Book both Wake Up Dead Man and The Last of Sheila to receive a discount!
Prime Minister 12A
SCREENING FROM FRI 5 DEC / Lindsay Utz, Michelle Walshe / New Zealand/USA / 2025 1hr 41min / English Going behind the scenes of her administration and her private life, Prime Minister follows Jacinda Ardern for seven years as she is catapulted to the top of New Zealand politics, becomes a feminist political icon, resigns suddenly from office and continues to champion the fight against isolationism, fear, and the distortion of truth. Contains infrequent strong language, moderate threat, upsetting scenes
Select screenings will be accompanied with a pre-recorded Q&A
It Was Just An Accident 12A
SCREENING FROM FRI 5 DEC / Jafar Panahi Iran/France/Luxembourg/USA / 2025 / 1hr 44min / Persian with English subtitles Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi's critically acclaimed and deserving Palme d’Or winner. Following a minor traffic accident, an auto mechanic encounters the man who may have been his torturer in prison. But can he be sure? Contains infrequent strong language, moderate violence
Pillion 18
SCREENING FROM FRI 5 DEC / Harry Lighton UK/Ireland / 2025 / 1hr 46min / English Unassuming Colin's (Harry Melling) world is rocked when he enters a dom-sub relationship with attractive biker Ray (Alexander Skarsgård). Navigating this new life, he learns about its pleasures and pains. The charming, sexy and tender debut from Harry Lighton. Contains strong sex, nudity
Dreamers 15
SCREENING FROM FRI 5 DEC / Joy GharoroAkpojotor / UK / 2025 / 1hr 19min / English After fleeing persecution at home, Nigerian migrant Isio is sent to Hatchworth Removal Centre, where she meets her charismatic new roommate, Farah. As their unexpected bond blossoms into romance, Isio must make a decision that could cost them everything.
The Shining 15
SCREENING FROM FRI 12 DEC / Stanley Kubrick UK/USA / 1980 / 2hr 24min / English (US Version) Hired as caretaker of an isolated and deserted mountain hotel, struggling author Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) is haunted by his frustrated creative ambitions, and soon his underlying insanity gradually evolves into rampant madness. Stanley Kubrick's masterful psychological horror screens to celebrate its 45th anniversary. Contains strong violence, language
Cover-Up 15
SCREENING FROM FRI 12 DEC / Laura Poitras, Mark Obenhaus / USA / 2025 / 1hr 57min English, Vietnamese and Arabic with English subtitles Acclaimed documentary directors Mark Obenhaus and Laura Poitras deliver a political thriller that traces the career of Pulitzer Prizewinning investigative reporter Seymour Hersh, who covered, among many other things, the U.S. Army torture scandals during the Vietnam War and the Iraq War. Contains images of real dead bodies, references to violence and sexual violence
The Tale of Silyan 12A
SCREENING FROM FRI 12 DEC / Tamara Kotevska North Macedonia/USA / 2025 / 1hr 20min Macedonian with English subtitles From the director of Honeyland, this acclaimed National Geographic documentary follows a struggling farmer whose chance encounter with an injured white stork awakens a profound love for the living world around him. Contains brief suicide references, upsetting scenes
Sunset Boulevard 12A
SCREENING FROM FRI 19 DEC / Billy Wilder USA / 1950 / 1hr 50min / English Billy Wilder's multi-Academy Award®-winning ode to the silver screen, starring Gloria Swanson as an aging silent film queen and William Holden as the struggling writer held in thrall by her madness. Screening from a new 4K restoration to celebrate its diamond anniversary!
James Dean Trilogy "You're tearing me apart!" James Dean was a pivotal figure in bringing the melodramatic pyrotechnics of Method acting to mass audiences in the 1950s. The three films in which Dean played lead roles are all canonical family melodramas that feature scenes in which pent-up emotions explode dramatically, in volcanic outpourings. East of Eden Mon 8 + Tue 9 Dec Rebel Without a Cause Wed 10 + Thu 11 Dec Giant Sat 13 Dec
Contains suicide references
L'Atalante 15
SCREENING FROM FRI 19 DEC / Jean Vigo France / 1934 / 1hr 58min / French and Russian with English subtitles A timeless masterpiece of love and yearning, L’Atalante was the only full-length film made by Jean Vigo before his tragic early death. An enduring classic in a new 4K restoration, it blends realism and surrealism in its tale of a pair of newlyweds aboard a boat steaming down the Seine. Contains brief nudity and infrequent sex references
Come See Me in the Good Light 15 SCREENING FROM FRI 12 DEC / Ryan White USA / 2025 / 1hr 45min / English
A poignant and unexpectedly funny love story about celebrated poets Andrea Gibson and Megan Falley facing an incurable cancer diagnosis with joy, wit and an unshakable partnership. Contains strong language, suicide references
Marty Supreme TBC
SCREENING FROM FRI 26 DEC / Josh Safdie Finland/USA / 2025 / 2hr 29min / English Timothée Chalamet is Marty Mauser, a young hustler and gifted ping-pong player from New York who dreams of becoming the world's greatest table tennis player. Directed by Josh Safdie, one half of the filmmaking duo who brought us Good Time and Uncut Gems.
Sentimental Value 15
SCREENING FROM FRI 26 DEC / Joachim Trier Norway/Germany/Denmark / 2025 / 2hr 13min Norwegian, English and French with English subtitles Norwegian director Joachim Trier's (The Worst Person in the World) Cannes Grand Prix winner, starring Renate Reinsve, Elle Fanning and Stellan Skarsgård. Two adult sisters navigate their emotional wounds and futures when their absentee father returns following the death of their mother. Contains strong language, suicide references
Christmas Get into the Christmas spirit here at Filmhouse! PERFECT PAIRS: Book tickets for two or more of our Christmas films to receive a discount!
The Holdovers 15
FRI 12 + SAT 13 DEC / Alexander Payne / USA 2024 / 2hr 13min / English A cantankerous instructor (Paul Giamatti) remains on campus during the winter break to babysit a ragtag bunch with nowhere to go. He soon forms an unlikely bond with student Angus, and the school's cook Mary. Alexander Payne sensitively explores friendship and trauma in this heartfelt comedy drama. Contains strong language, brief nudity.
The Polar Express (Pyjama Party) SAT 13 DEC / Robert Zemeckis / USA/Australia 2004 / 1hr 48min English On Christmas Eve, a young boy finds himself on an extraordinary journey aboard the Polar Express on an adventure that will change his life. Contains mild threat
We encourage little ones to come along in their cosiest pyjamas and enjoy a hot chocolate at this special PJ party screening!
It's a Wonderful Life U
SCREENING FROM MON 15 DEC / Frank Capra USA / 1946 / 2hr 10min / English and French with English subtitles Ring in the festive season with one of the most popular films ever made. An angel helps the compassionate but despairingly frustrated George Bailey (James Stewart) by showing what life would had been like if he never existed. Contains no material likely to offend or harm
White Christmas 15
MON 15 + WED 17 DEC / Michael Curtiz / USA 1954 / 2hr / English Two talented song-and-dance men (Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye) team up with a sister act (Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen) to perform in a joint Christmas show to help their own army commander. Contains no material likely to offend or harm
Too Much: Melodrama on Film SCREENING UNTIL 17 DEC Our season of films celebrating the vivid visual language and heightened dramatics of melodrama continues into December. Select screenings will feature introductions Imitation of Life Wed 3 Dec The Silences of the Palace Sat 6 + Mon 8 Dec Brief Encounter Sun 7 + Tue 9 Dec All That Heaven Allows Sun 17 + Wed 17 Dec Far from Heaven Sun 14 + Tue 16 Dec
The Shop Around The Corner PG
TUE 16 + THU 18 DEC / Ernst Lubitsch / USA 1940 / 1hr 39min / English
Ernst Lubitsch's deliciously nuanced and graceful classic, starring James Stewart and Klara Novak, may be the greatest of Christmas romantic comedies. Two employees at a gift shop can barely stand each other, without realizing that they are falling in love through the post as each other's anonymous pen pal. Contains infrequent suicide references
8 Women 15
20 - 22 DEC / François Ozon / France/Italy 2002 / 1hr 51min / French with English subtitles In an isolated mansion in 1950s France, a family is gathered for Christmas. But the patriarch is found murdered, and the killer can only be one of the eight women closest to him. François Ozon brings together an ensemble cast of France's most celebrated actresses in this murder mystery musical. Contains brief sexual abuse references MORE CHRISTMAS! We also have a festive selection in our Wee Filmhouse strand for families, meanwhile if you're looking for something different, we're screening alternative Xmas classic Tokyo Godfathers as our December Lavendar Lens choice, and Whoever Slew Auntie Roo? as our Cult Classic - see page 5!
Die Hard 15
120 BPM 15
New York cop John McClane (Bruce Willis) visits his estranged wife during her Christmas party at the Nakatomi Plaza. The party takes a turn when a group of terrorists headed by Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) take the employees hostage.
The lives of AIDS activists in early 90s Paris are reimagined in bold and vivid detail in 120 BPM, a heart-wrenching drama from the writer of Palme d’Or winner The Class, Robin Campillo. A rare chance to see a modern classic back on the big screen.
SAT 20 + TUE 23 DEC / John McTiernan / USA 1988 / 2hr 12min / English, German, Italian and Japanese
Contains strong violence, language, nudity and hard drug use
The Muppet Christmas Carol U
WED 24 DEC / Brian Henson / USA/UK / 1992 1hr 29min / English / Full length version The Muppets put their spin on Charles Dickens' classic tale, with Michael Caine as the miserable scrooge who finds himself visited by the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future. Contains mild scary scenes
Special Events Castration Movie Anthology Castration Movie follows a trans woman named Michaela "Traps" Sinclair, a sex worker in Vancouver who splits her time between clients and her group of trans friends. As the weight of the world piles up on her she decides to seek a back alley orchiectomy.
WED 3 DEC / Robin Campillo / France / 2018 2hr 23min / French, French Sign Language and English with English subtitles
Contains strong sex, nudity, sex references, language.
This screening is in support of Waverley Care for World AIDS Day, and will have an introduction from Waverley Care Chief Executive Grant Sugden.
Zodiac Killer Project + Q&A 15 FRI 5 DEC / Charlie Shackleton / USA/UK 2025 / 1hr 32min / English
Filmmaker Charlie Shackleton tells the story of his abandoned documentary about the infamous Zodiac Killer, describing beat-by-beat how he imagined it playing out. Contains infrequent strong sex references.
This screening will be followed by a Q&A with director Charlie Shackleton hosted by Paul Ridd (Director of EIFF)
Castration Movie Anthology i: Traps 18 SAT 6 DEC / Louise Weard / Canada / 2024 4hr 36min / English The first part of this film includes Chapter i. Incel Superman and Chapter ii. Traps Swan Princess. Contains strong sex, nudity, references to suicide, self-harm and sexual assault.
Castration Movie Anthology ii: The Best of Both Worlds 18 SAT 13 DEC / Louise Weard / Canada / 2025 5hr / English In Chapter iii. Polygon!!!! Heartmoder. Circle (Lex Walton) tries to leave a trans separatist cult in New York. Contains abusive behaviour, strong sex, nudity, drug misuse, sexual violence, suicide and self-harm.
Followed by a Q&A with director Louise Weard, which will have live captions
Hong Kong Film Festival UK 2025 Hong Kong Film Festival UK comes to Filmhouse for the first time, presenting reflective, boundary-shifting movingimage work and cross-disciplinary events from Hong Kong and the ESEA diaspora. Queerpanorama (眾生相) Fri 5 Dec Spacked Out (無人駕駛) Sat 6 Dec Montages of a Modern Motherhood (虎 毒不) Sun 7 Dec
Invisible Nation 12A
SAT 13 DEC / Vanessa Hope / USA/Taiwan / 2025 1hr 25min / English and Mandarin with English subtitles Director Vanessa Hope, with unprecedented access to Taiwan's sitting head of state, explores the story behind the election and administration of Taiwan's first female president, Tsai Ing-wen.
Queer East Queer East is a cross-disciplinary festival that showcases boundary-pushing LGBTQ+ cinema, live arts, and moving image work from East and Southeast Asia and its diaspora communities. These events are showing as part of Queer East On the Road 2025, a nationwide touring season taking place in 15 cities across the UK. Jo-Fei Chen Double Bill Tue 9 Dec My Sunshine (ぼくのお日さま) Thu 11 Dec
The Last of Sheila 15
SUN 7 + THU 11 DEC / Herbert Ross / USA 1973 / 2hr / English and French with English subtitles Sheila is killed in a hit and run. A year later, her husband invites a group of friends to enjoy a vacation on his yacht, taking part in a scavenger hunt-style game. However, the game transpires to be more than just that... Written by friends Anthony Perkins (of Psycho fame) and legendary musical theatre composer Stephen Sondheim, The Last of Sheila directly influenced Rian Johnson in creating the Knives Out trilogy. Contains strong injury detail, homophobia, references to child sexual abuse.
PERFECT PAIRS Book both Wake Up Dead Man and The Last of Sheila to receive a discount!
Monsieur Aznavour N/C 15
SAT 13 DEC / Mehdi Idir, Grand Corps Malade France / 2024 / 2hr 13min / French, Armenian, English, Swedish and German with English subtitles A cinematic tribute to one of the icons of French chanson, Charles Aznavour. From his poor childhood to his rise to fame, the film tells the exceptional journey of an artist devoted to his art until the very end. The final screening as part of French Film Festival 2025
Presented by the Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce Scotland and Edinburgh Taiwanese Community. Followed by a Q&A.
Whoever Slew Auntie Roo? 15
THU 18 DEC / Curtis Harrington / UK / 1972 / 1hr 31min / English Enter the proverbial gingerbread house in our festive Cult Classic, as Shelley Winters plays a mentally ill widow who entices unsuspecting orphans into her mansion with the promise of a lavish Christmas party... it's all very Hansel and Gretel!
The Freshman N/C PG
SUN 21 + TUE 23 DEC / Fred C. Newmeyer, Sam Taylor / USA / 1925 / 1hr 16min / English Harold Lamb (Harold Lloyd) arrives at Tate University determinded to be popular, but instead finds himself the target of practical jokes and ridicule. With the help of his one real friend Peggy, he resolves to change this. Part of , an ongoing season of films celebrating their 100th year
Lavender Lens Don't miss our screening of Pink Flamingos on Tue 2 Dec!
Tokyo Godfathers 12A
TUE 30 DEC / Satoshi Kon / Japan / 2003 1hr 32min / Japanese, Spanish and English with English subtitles In modern-day Tokyo, three homeless people's lives are changed forever when they discover an abandoned baby on Christmas Eve. As the New Year approaches, they set out to find its parents. An extraordinary anime comedy-drama from anime master Satoshi Kon. Contains moderate violence, discriminatory language, brief implication of suicide.
Doc Screen An initiative run by Scottish Documentary Institute (SDI) in partnership with Filmhouse, aiming to bring more independent documentaries into the cinema and to open up spaces for political and creative forms of expression, debate and solidarity.
The Wolves Always Come at Night N/C PG WED 3 DEC / Gabrielle Brady / Australia/ Mongolia/Germany / 2024 / 1hr 29min Mongolian with English subtitles This immersive docu-western follows the story of a young couple who must make the painful decision to relocate to the city for work, leaving behind their land and rural lives they treasure. Contains moderate sex references, rude gesture.
This screening will have a short 5-minute pre-recorded introduction from director Gabrielle Brady.
Falastin Frames Falastin Frames is the monthly fundraiser screening project run by the Falastin Film Festival, a volunteer-run, not-forprofit collective of Palestinians and allies dedicated to bringing Palestinian art to Scottish audiences.
On Sound (Short Film Programme) N/C PG THU 4 DEC / Various Directors / 1 hr 32min Four experimental shorts uncovering the occupation’s haunting use of sound as a form of torture, the politics of sound and sonic selfdetermination. Contains sustained drone & fighter jet sounds; depictions of military violence; portrayal of life under constant aerial supervision
This screening will be followed by a postscreening discussion moderated by Toufic Haddad.
Still Pushing Pineapples 12A WED 17 DEC / Kim Hopkins / UK / 2025 / 1hr 33min / English Kim Hopkins’ moving and funny documentary follows former pop star Dene Michael as he clings to the fame he once had as part of Black Lace, known for their hit Agadoo. Contains moderate sex references, rude gesture.
This screening will be followed by a Q&A with director Kim Hopkins and producer Margareta Szabo.
Cinetopia:Doc Nightcleaners 12A WED 10 DEC / James Scott, Mary Kelly, Marc Karlin, Humphry Trevelyan / UK / 1975 / 1hr 30min / English Nightcleaners captures the struggles of women working as night cleaners in London’s office buildings during the early 1970s and their early attempts to unionise. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion featuring members of the Berwick Street Collective: Humphrey Trevelyan, James Scott and artist Mary Kelly (who was also a member of the Cleaners Action Group).
King! of Horror FRI 26 DEC - THU 1 JAN Any time might seem like the right time to celebrate the work of the most film-adapted of all living authors, Stephen King, however this year feels particularly apt, with two newly adapted works and a rerelease of The Shining, enjoying its 45th anniversary (see page 1!) Everyone has their favourite - join us during Twixmas for our best guess of what your top 6 might be - Misery, Salem's Lot, Carrie, Christine, Pet Sematary and The Mist.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas PG SUN 14 DEC / Ron Howard / Germany/USA 2000 / 1 hr 44min / English
Hogmanay With Hogmanay fast approaching, we watch one year pass to the next with a celebration of everything Scotland! As always, our New Year's resolution for 2026 is to continue to bring you the best cinema, and, as ever, we know that we'll deliver.
The Grinch HATES Christmas, so much so that he's going to steal it from Whoville - however, a little bit of kindness from Cindy Lou Who might go a long way in changing his mind... Contains mild scary scenes, rude humour, language
The Muppet Christmas Carol U SUN 21 DEC / Brian Henson / USA/UK / 1992 / 1hr 26min / English / Full length version Join Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and all the hilarious Muppets in this merry, magical version of Charles Dickens' classic tale.
PERFECT PAIRS: book tickets for two or more of our Hogmanay films to receive a discount. Tickets can also be bought separately.
Contains mild scary scenes
Comfort and Joy Tue 30 Dec Whisky Galore! (1949) Wed 31 Dec I Know Where I’m Going! Wed 31 Dec The Illusionist (2010) Thu 1 Jan Wild Rose Thu 1 Jan The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie Fri 2 Jan
SUN 28 DEC / Chris Columbus / USA / 1990 1hr 43min / English
Home Alone PG 8-year-old Kevin McAllister is accidentally left home alone when his family leave for the winter holidays. When the family home is targeted by two bumbling burglars, Kevin draws up an elaborate defence plan... Contains moderate slapstick violence and infrequent moderate language
Wee Filmhouse Our weekly films for a younger audience. These screenings are aimed at children and their families, but everyone is welcome!
The Wizard of Oz U SUN 7 DEC / Victor Fleming / USA / 1939 / 1hr 42min / English Follow Dorothy as she and her dog Toto befriend Lion, Scarecrow, and Tin Man and they head off together to ask the wonderful Wizard of Oz for what they are missing most Contains mild fantasy threat, scary sequences